Tedster Posted October 2, 2003 Share Posted October 2, 2003 To you, given a certain modicum of baseline performance, when buying a new guitar, which is more important? Now, before you all get your knickers in a knot, what I'm getting at is, do you crave subtle tonal nuances that might be missing from a hot rod guitar, or do you want the flash? "Cisco Kid, was a friend of mine" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Thrashole Posted October 2, 2003 Share Posted October 2, 2003 I don't care about looks as long as it has a wizard II neck......and a pointy headstock! Reach out and grab a clue. Something Vicious My solo crap Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tedster Posted October 2, 2003 Author Share Posted October 2, 2003 Originally posted by thrashole369: and a pointy headstock! I knew that was coming ...actually, that's kinda what gave me the idea for this thread. "Cisco Kid, was a friend of mine" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gabriel E. Posted October 2, 2003 Share Posted October 2, 2003 Any guitar worth its salt should have both. Fortunately there are plenty that do. "You never can vouch for your own consciousness." - Norman Mailer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael saulnier Posted October 2, 2003 Share Posted October 2, 2003 It totally depends... Looks are most important for some people... more than sound for sure. guitplayer I'm still "guitplayer"! Check out my music if you like... http://www.michaelsaulnier.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Thrashole Posted October 2, 2003 Share Posted October 2, 2003 Hey I'm dead serious about the neck. I actually don't care about the headstock but the early 90's wizard II is the only neck that I'm comfortable with. I've tried LP's, strats, PRS, everything but It is always a little uncomfortable for me. Reach out and grab a clue. Something Vicious My solo crap Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henryrobinett Posted October 2, 2003 Share Posted October 2, 2003 Originally posted by thrashole369: I don't care about looks as long as it has a wizard II neck......and a pointy headstock! Yooz guys is all racist and stuff. Oh wait. That's me. Never mind. All the best, Henry Robinett Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Flier Posted October 2, 2003 Share Posted October 2, 2003 To me, the important thing is the tone and the neck/playability factor. It has to sound right and FEEL right. Also, it should be balanced well so that the neck doesn't sink to the floor when you let go of it. Luckily, most guitars that meet these criteria look cool, too. Maybe it's partly that a guitar becomes more attractive to me looks-wise if it feels and sounds great. Come to think of it, men do too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Thrashole Posted October 2, 2003 Share Posted October 2, 2003 Do your men have anything pointy?? That's what I thought! Reach out and grab a clue. Something Vicious My solo crap Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caevan O’Shite Posted October 2, 2003 Share Posted October 2, 2003 I thought that the third choice was the easy way out, 'cause of course, if I can have my pie and eat it, too, I'm all for it! But, given the choice of tone vs. appearence, I'll go with tone any day. Of course, tone by my reckoning! Ask yourself- What Would Ren and Stimpy Do? ~ Caevan James-Michael Miller-O'Shite ~ _ ___ _ Leprechaun, Esquire _ ___ _ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillWelcome Home Studios Posted October 2, 2003 Share Posted October 2, 2003 I don't buy new gitars, I buy old ones. I have new guitars custom made, and that involves putting the best parts on a cool looking body. I guess there is something to be said for the wine-filled guitar that Rob Zombie's band uses.... pretty and practical. Bill "I believe that entertainment can aspire to be art, and can become art, but if you set out to make art you're an idiot." Steve Martin Show business: we're all here because we're not all there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NMcGuitar Posted October 2, 2003 Share Posted October 2, 2003 For me a guitar has to have both, to some degree. However, when it comes to brass tacks, I'll go with tone every time. May all your thoughts be random! - Neil www.McFaddenArts.com www.MikesGarageRocks.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tedster Posted October 3, 2003 Author Share Posted October 3, 2003 Originally posted by Lee Flier: Come to think of it, men do too. Lee, you know all us guys are fallin' all over ourselves when you talk like that... Just like the guys in the old Mae West movies... "Cisco Kid, was a friend of mine" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caevan O’Shite Posted October 3, 2003 Share Posted October 3, 2003 Now, to be honest, a guitar's looks are what will initially draw my attention, to look a little closer... then those looks, upon closer inspection, and the guitar's design features, might convince me to pick it up and play it. Then I begin to evaluate its feel and tone. And the longer I play the thing- quite dependant on its "feel"- the more its tones, or more accurately, its tonal possibilities, begin to be impressed upon me. Then- if I like what I hear, and it can work with the way I play- fingerstyle/without a pick and with heavier strings and a medium action- I'll like that guitar! Ask yourself- What Would Ren and Stimpy Do? ~ Caevan James-Michael Miller-O'Shite ~ _ ___ _ Leprechaun, Esquire _ ___ _ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
demarc Posted October 3, 2003 Share Posted October 3, 2003 I took door number three also. I want it all. But then again, I roll my own. Acoustic w/ cutaway, or solid body carved out of one solid piece, but always headless. Check out some handcrafted guitars: http://home.mindspring.com/~grus/guitars.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
demarc Posted October 3, 2003 Share Posted October 3, 2003 here are some pics of my fav: http://www.mindspring.com/~grus/guitars/mapac2.jpg http://www.mindspring.com/~grus/guitars/mapac1.jpg I need to find the time to make a proper website Check out some handcrafted guitars: http://home.mindspring.com/~grus/guitars.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greyblooz Posted October 3, 2003 Share Posted October 3, 2003 As long as form follows function, you should be able to get a usable tone. My archtop, for example, has a paisley soundhole in the upper bout, which looks cool but also improves the guitar bass response. It also has an EMG-HZ pickup and weird knobs concealed on the side of the pick guard. These didn't sound so good, so I replaced them. Also, I have bought my last two guitars by mail order after their reviews in magazines (this one actually). When I took them out of the box, these guitars didn't sound exactly as I imagined they would, but I couldn't say anything bad about the way they sounded either. Over time I learned to appreciate the unique tonal qualities of my guitars. The point is that we all probably choose a guitar for the features or image you need, but then have to listen for what makes it special. . Every guitar has at least one beautiful chord, song, tuning, lick, or maybe just a noise that is waiting for someone to find it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gator Wing Posted October 3, 2003 Share Posted October 3, 2003 Although I still only own one, and will be shopping soon, I get suckered in by how it looks. Maybe when my playing is better I'll worry about tone. There are two theories about arguing with a woman. Neither one works. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caevan O’Shite Posted October 3, 2003 Share Posted October 3, 2003 Wow! Hey, demarc, tell me more about the what, where, when, 'n'how concerning your "rolling your own" guitars. That one in the pics is quite interesting! What are the tuners you use there? And, did you build from the ground up, or did you use some pre-made parts for the body and neck? Ask yourself- What Would Ren and Stimpy Do? ~ Caevan James-Michael Miller-O'Shite ~ _ ___ _ Leprechaun, Esquire _ ___ _ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tedster Posted October 3, 2003 Author Share Posted October 3, 2003 Yeah, interesting, Demarc... And let's welcome our buddy Gatorwing back!!! "Cisco Kid, was a friend of mine" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
demarc Posted October 3, 2003 Share Posted October 3, 2003 Thanks, guys. The one in the pic is sn 008, completed May 1990. It is my fav. It is a headless acoustic cutaway. body and sides of flamed European Maple,neck is domestic Rock Maple, Ebony fingerboard w/ MOP snowflake inlays, book matched Sitka Spruce top, 25.0 scale, 1.94 at zero fret, 22.18 at saddle, 24 frets, 34 OAL, 9.75 body at uupper bout, 12.75 at lower bout, 7.5 at waist, solid lining(I don't like kerfed linings), modified X bracing(to fit around tail block), bridge is ebony w/ twin compensated Galalaith saddles, right now it has D'Addario Phosphor Bronze .012's on it. Not including the half dozen non numbered guitars I made as a teenager, I built have a dozen so far. Number 001 was an Oak electric w/ custom whammy and had a headstock. number 002 and up are all headless. All my guitars are made from scratch. I keep changing dimensions trying to build a better guitar. Scale lengths even vary from 12.6 to 25( although I like 25) I guess you could say they are all prototypes. All made from raw lumber and metal. Sides are hand bent, free form over a heated pipe. I even make the truss rods from scratch. I spent 20+ years as a toolmaker, and I love to build things! I am most definitely old school! Acoustics are all with cutways and modified X bracing. Electrics are all carved from a solid piece of wood, neck and all. Of course, all wood is hand picked. Most electrics look related to a Gibson Explorer(love that look) Number 011 was a headless acoustic cutaway that I experimented with Steinberger machineheads. All other headless guitars have tuning mechanisms handcrafted from scratch by yours truly. All fingerboards, and acoustic bridges are made from scratch w/ a raw ebony blank. All of my guitars I built use Zero Fret, as opposed to a nut. I like the open chord voicing better this way. I am looking forward to doing another acoustic this winter break from school. I can think of no better feeling than stringing up for the first time, scraping the soundboard to thickness to tune it and dialing it all in. I will try to repair or rebuild my website for easier viewing and understanding. Thanks for the interest! Check out some handcrafted guitars: http://home.mindspring.com/~grus/guitars.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doc taz Posted October 3, 2003 Share Posted October 3, 2003 For me, it is both looks and sound, but ultimately, if the guitar doesn't ring well acoustically, and if the electric tone sucks, back to the rack it goes. I've played through awesome Jacksons and ESP's, sucky Les Pauls and Strats. I've played some nice Ovations, and heard some really bad Gibson acoustics. In the end, it's the TONE, baby. If she doesn't wail and make me feel so good that it makes me go NUTS, it ain't comin' home with me for some Taz lovin'! sevenstring.org profile my flickr page Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NMcGuitar Posted October 3, 2003 Share Posted October 3, 2003 Originally posted by demarc: here are some pics of my fav: http://www.mindspring.com/~grus/guitars/mapac2.jpg http://www.mindspring.com/~grus/guitars/mapac1.jpg I need to find the time to make a proper websiteCool! You mentioned oak. I've always wondered what oak would be like as a guitar wood. What are your thoughts? May all your thoughts be random! - Neil www.McFaddenArts.com www.MikesGarageRocks.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cactus Mike Posted October 3, 2003 Share Posted October 3, 2003 IMO there are more ugly tones in this world than there are ugly guitars! Mr. Plow, That's my name. That name again, is Cactus Mike. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bear Jew Posted October 3, 2003 Share Posted October 3, 2003 I think it kind of depends on your needs... For example, I'd play ANY kind of guitar in the studio if it sounded right for the track - even one of those horrid pointy things. However, for live work, I prefer the look of classic, old-school instruments like SGs and Les Pauls. It's rare that I can't get the sounds I want from one of these. \m/ Erik "To fight and conquer in all your battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists of breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting." --Sun Tzu Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
demarc Posted October 4, 2003 Share Posted October 4, 2003 You mentioned oak. I've always wondered what oak would be like as a guitar wood. What are your thoughts? I built #001 over 20 years ago out of a solid oak plank. It doesn't come out of the closet much, but the sustain seems okay. It hasn't had pickups in it for a long time so I can't say much for the tone. Oak seems to crack easily, IMO. 001 has a crack in the headstock starting at a machinehead hole. Oak has a very open grain, so the neck isn't really slippery. I would think, with it's tendency to crack, that the body to neck joint could tend to be weak, but I am partial to neck through designs anyways. This is all just my opinion, and is open for comment and/or discussion. Check out some handcrafted guitars: http://home.mindspring.com/~grus/guitars.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
revorhythm Posted October 4, 2003 Share Posted October 4, 2003 a good lookin guitar doesn't mean shit if it dont sound good, and vise-versa,a good sounding guitar dont mean shit if it dont look good. you can quote me on that hot girls, fast cars, and even louder guitars Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
revorhythm Posted October 4, 2003 Share Posted October 4, 2003 a good lookin guitar doesn't mean shit if it dont sound good, and vise-versa,a good sounding guitar dont mean shit if it dont look good. you can quote me on that hot girls, fast cars, and even louder guitars Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guitarzan Posted October 4, 2003 Share Posted October 4, 2003 i go for tone, but i will check out a guitar if it catches my eye. but if it sucks then its back to the rack. i must say my godin lg and yamaha pacifica are rather handsome but my yanaha aes 500 in silver is kind of fugly http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=193274 rock it, i will Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gator Wing Posted October 5, 2003 Share Posted October 5, 2003 Thanks, Ted! http://www.intcon.net/~songbird/inst/gtr93.gif There are two theories about arguing with a woman. Neither one works. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.